- Kia Optima receives more positive reactions from
the ICOTY jury than any other vehicle nominated

- ICOTY honor adds to Optima's long list of
accolades

DETROIT--Jan.
15, 2013: Kia Motors America (KMA) is proud to announce that
Road & Travel Magazine has named the 2013 Kia Optima as the
International Car of the Year at the 2013 North American International Auto
Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Completely
redesigned for the 2011 model year, the Optima's stunning design combined
with modern amenities and impressive value propelled the mid-size sedan to
becoming the top-selling Kia vehicle in 2012.

"We are thrilled that our best-selling Optima has earned the distinction
of being named International Car of the Year by Road & Travel
Magazine, further elevating its status in the midsize segment," said
Michael Sprague, executive vice president of
marketing and communications, KMA. "The Optima continues to attract new
customers to the Kia brand by offering an impressive combination of design,
performance, comfort and technology. All of this while still maintaining
Kia's unmatched value proposition."

Road & TravelMagazine gives 10 ICOTY awards to new or
existing model year vehicles with significant and/or impressive
improvements. These awards are based on the emotional connection between
the consumer and vehicle. The winners are chosen by the ICOTY jury, which
consists of nationally renowned automotive journalists from respected
publications such as MSN Autos, Car and Driver and Consumer
GuideAutomotive.

"The Kia Optima rose to the top of the list as the most emotionally
compelling vehicle above all others," said Courtney
Caldwell, Road and Travel Magazine's Editor-in-Chief. "Its
functional yet sleek design as well as advanced features intertwines
effortlessly with consumer lifestyles on many levels, qualities we look for
when considering contenders for the ICOTY awards."

In addition to this prestigious accolade, the Optima has earned a number
of awards including being named the 2012 "Best New Car Value" award from
Kiplinger's Personal Finance, "Sedan of the Year" by Autobytel.com,
one of the "Top Drives for 2012" by the Boston Globe and a "Best
Buy" by Consumers Digest.

Kia: One of the World's Fastest Moving Global Automotive BrandsKia Motors America is one of only three auto brands to increase U.S.
sales in each of the past four years, and in 2012 the company surpassed the
500,000 unit mark for the first time. With a full line of fun-to-drive
cars and CUVs, Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by
combining European-influenced styling -- under the guidance of
chief design officer Peter Schreyer
-- with cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities,
affordable pricing and the lowest cost of ownership in the industry. Kia
recently joined the exclusive ranks of Interbrand's "Top 100 Best Global
Brands," and is poised to continue its record-breaking momentum with seven
all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles arriving in showrooms in
2013. Over the past decade Kia Motors has invested more than $1.4 billion in the U.S., including the company's
first U.S. assembly plant in West Point,
Georgia -- Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia
-- which is responsible for the creation of more than 11,000
plant and supplier jobs. The success of the U.S.-built* Optima and
Sorento in two of the industry's largest segments has fueled Kia's growth
and is complemented by Kia's comprehensive lineup which includes the
Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte
compact sedan, 5-door compact hatchback and Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio
and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only)
and GDI Turbo are built in the United
States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.